Sunday 09:26:10

The Rewarder Your Very Great Reward Last week: Laodiceans were rich and did not know their need for God. They became lukewarm in their faith. Jesus told them they needed to come to Him for His true riches, His white clothes to cover their shameful state, and salve for their eyes so they could see their true spiritual condition. Genesis 15:1-6 1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." Abram’s very great reward is not only the inheritance that God had promised him, but that God Himself was his reward. For Abram to know God was in itself a reward. Matthew 13:44-46 44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. The kingdom of heaven is synonymous with the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the present and future saving reign of God and of Christ. The treasure in the field and the pearl of great value is the kingdom of God – His saving reign. The point of the parable is the value of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is so valuable that losing everything on earth, but getting the kingdom, is a happy trade-off. Having the omnipotent, saving reign of Christ in our lives is so valuable that, if we lose everything, in order to have it, it is a joyful sacrifice. Parables usually make one main point. And the point here is not that the kingdom is bought, but that if it costs you everything you have, it’s worth it. Notice two things: The man sold everything he had, and he did it with joy. The kingdom of God is so valuable that losing everything on earth, but getting the kingdom, is a happy trade-off. That’s the main point. The apostle Paul expresses the same thought in… Philippians 3:7-8 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Knowing Christ is more valuable than anything else in this life. If we lose everything, but gain Christ, we are blessed. Jesus tells us how great our love for him should be in comparison to the rest of our life. Matthew 10:37-39 37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Our love for God should be so great that our love for everything else in this life pales in comparison. He is the treasure in the field, worth everything else in this life. He is the pearl of great value. Gaining Christ is worth losing everything else. How is your love and desire for God? Is it half-hearted? Is your relationship with Him mediocre? Are your affections split between the things of this life and Him? This is the battle we all face in following Christ. Our hearts are easily swayed. Ephesians 1:17 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. In knowing Him better, we find we love him more.